The Washington Attorney General recently filed 32 charges against Jason Smith for illegally baiting and killing bears, elk and deer. Smith is charged with poaching 13 animals over two seasons and faces two felonies, 27 gross misdemeanors and three misdemeanors, according to a news release.

The incidents occurred in 2021 and 2022. Smith allegedly baited bears and elk and even killed a sow bear with cubs. He is also charged with hunting during a closed season, hunting over bag limit, retrieving animals from private property without permission and waste of wildlife.

Smith faces up to five years in prison and $20,000 in fines for the two felony charges as well as an additional 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine for the second-degree misdemeanors of unlawful hunting of big game, unlawful black bear hunting and unlawful waste of wildlife. He also faces 90 days in jail plus a $1,000 fine for the other three misdemeanors.

The case is pending as the allegations were just filed in early September.

Click here to read the affidavit of probable cause and then weigh in below: does the punishment fit the crime? How does this type of “hunter” impact the hunting community?